Scotland helicporter crash: Two bodies found

11:15, 24 August 2013

SHETLAND. August 24. KAZINFORM The bodies of two of the three people missing after a helicopter crash off Shetland have been recovered, a lifeboat crew member has said.

Coxswain Bruce Leask said they were recovered by lifeboat after being spotted in the water from a rescue helicopter.

The Super Puma L2 helicopter crashed west of Sumburgh Airport at about 18:20 BST on Friday.

Fifteen people were rescued, and one remains unaccounted for, Kazinform has learnt from BBC News.

The ditched helicopter was found broken into several pieces up against the face of rocks.

Mr Leask said the Lerwick lifeboat had managed to tow the wreckage off the rocks.

A rope has been attached and the helicopter is being held in the shelter of Horse Island until a recovery vessel arrives.

The helicopter, carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin oil platform in the North Sea, was operated by CHC for Total, taking people to and from oil and gas platforms.

Rescue helicopters and two lifeboats were sent to the scene, where they were joined by a ferry and a cargo ship.

Mr Leask said: "The last we saw, the helicopter was quite badly broken up; it's been pounding against the rocks.

"Difficult to say how many pieces it was in but it was upside down and certainly two, possibly three sections."

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